Where and When

The Mind-set Produced by Scarcity

Why do successful people get things done at the last minute? Why does
poverty persist? Why do organizations get stuck firefighting? Why do the
lonely find it hard to make friends? These questions may seem unconnected,
yet this year's Montclair Book shows that they are all
examples of a mind-set produced by scarcity. The dynamics of scarcity reveal why dieters find it hard to resist
temptation, why students and busy executives mismanage their time, and
why sugarcane farmers are smarter after harvest than before. The book provides a new way of understanding why the poor stay poor
and the busy stay busy, and it reveals not only how scarcity leads us
astray but also how individuals and organizations can better manage
scarcity for greater satisfaction and success. Learn more about Scarcity and its authors here.

Eldar Shafir

Shafir is a professor of psychology at Princeton University. His research examines cognitive science, judgement and decision making. He has advised at the White House and the Treasury Department. Shafir was named one of
Foreign Policy Magazine's 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2013. Along with coauthor Sendhil Mullainathan, Shafir co-founded ideas42, a nonprofit that designs behavioral economics solutions to social problems.

Book Signing

A Q&A session with the audience and book signing will follow. All students, faculty, staff, and alumni are welcome to attend this community event.